Pit safety-lamp.



No. 689,427. Patente d Dec. 24, l90I. E. SIMON.

PIT SAFETY L'AMP.

(Application med July 9, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 639,421, Patented Dec. 24, 1901.

- E. smon.

PIT SAFETY LAMP.

(Application filed July 9, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 shunts-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEQ EDUARD SIMON, OF DARMSTADT, GERMANY.

PIT SAFETY-LAM P.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 689,427, dated December 24, 1901.

Application filed July 9, 1901. Serial No. 67,601. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDUARD SIMoN,a citizen of Germany,and a residentofDarmstadt,Germany, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pit Safety-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

In order to ascertain whether fire-damp or gases are present in coal-mines,lamps with exposed flames are generally used that are inclosed in a Davis net. The smaller the flame the more quickly will occur an explosion of the gases that have penetratedthe gauze and which will extinguish the light. As the flame must burn very low during an investigation, onlya very small amouutof light is emitted. This objection is overcome by thepresent invention,by which the safety-lampis provided with the usual adjustable open light and with an additional incandescent lamp of peculiar construction that emits a sufficient volume of light. As soon as the investigation is completed and the ventilation is installed the investigator may employ both or either one of the two sources of light.

The electric lamp is provided with an automatic switch which switches off the incandescent lamp as soon as the permissible lowest point of discharge of the accumulator is reached. In this way an objectionable need less exhaustion of the accumulator, which frequently happens when the apparatus is used by an inexperienced person, is avoided.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved lamp. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line A B, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a similar section showing the parts in a different position,and Fig. 4 a crosssection on line C D, Fig. 1.

Within the well of the oil or benzene lamp provision is made for the reception of one or more accumulators a, which may, however, also be placed sidewise above or below the well. By loosening screws s,which hold a lid, bottom, or cross-piece t,the accumulator may be withdrawn downwardly. By thus withdrawing the accumulator the connections between it and the contacts of the electric lamp are broken, while by the introduction of the accumulator the connections are at once reestablished. It by means of a button at the incandescent lamp is switched in and if the accumulator is sufliciently charged, the electromagnet e, which is interpolated into the circuit of the lamp, will attract the spring switch-lever h until the capacity of the accumulator is nearly exhausted,Fig. 3. The following is the circuit in this case: The current passes from the pole through the wire p,the lever h, the contact t, the wire q, the windings of the electromagnet e, the wire r, to the electrodefof the incandescent lamp, from there to the electrode 9, and by the wire to to the pole. In case of an exhaustion of the capacity of the accumulator the magnetic.

power of the electromagnet is decreased by the reduced tension and diminution of the current until the armature of lever his liberated and the current is broken,Fig. 2. In goin g to its position of rest the'lever h touches a contact-piece n, Fig. 2, by which a second circuit is momentarily closed. In touching the contact-piece n the circuit is the follow ing, Fig. 2: The current passes from the pole through the wire 19, the lever h, the contact-piece n, the wire 7), to the platinum wire 0, and from there by the wire to to the pole. The platinum wire 0 is fixed in proximity to the open light at and becomes by the passage of the current white hot and ignites such light. The glowing of the platinum wire also occurs when the capacity of the accumulator is so far diminished that a further burning of the lamp is not desired and is prevented by the switch.

The benzene may of course be replaced by any other source of light giving an open flame and formed by a gaseous or solid combustible. The upper edge of the oil-well is cogged or toothed, as at z, the teeth being engaged by a catch on the upper part of the lamp when the latter is screwed up. In this way an opening of the lamp by unauthorized persons is prevented. The catch 70 can only be Withdrawn by means of a powerful magnet.

What I claim is A pit safety-lamp composed of an accumulator, an electromagnet, a switch-lever influenced thereby, an incandescent lamp in circuit when the switch-lever is attracted, an incandescent wire in circuit when the switchlever is released, and an open light in proximity to the incandescent wire, substantially as specified.

Signed by me at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, this 11th day of March, 1901.

EDUARD SIMON.

Witnesses RICHARD GUENTHER, CARL GEUND. 

